Currycomb



(No Model.)

A. 0. DECKER.

- 'GURBYOOMB. No. 575,544. Patented Jan. 19, 1897.

ill;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ALEXANDER C. DECKER, OF KEOKUK, IOlVA.

CURRYCOMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,544, dated January 19, 1897. Application filed January 24, 1896. Serial No. 576,702. (No model..

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER O. DECKER,

acit-izen of the United States, residing at Keolink, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ourrycombs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to currycombs, and particularly to that class known to the trade as flexible close-back combs.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of the improved comb; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal sectional View; Fig. 3, a rear elevation; Fig. 4, a perspective View of one of the toothed sections; Fig. 5, a top plan View of a modified form of construction, and Fig. 6 a sectional view showing a further modification.

The object of my invention is to produce a flexible currycomb, one that is flexible in its back and in the toothed sections. Under the construction shown in the drawings and hereinafter described these results are obtained, and the further desirable points of strength, simplicity, lightness, and cheapness of manufacture are also present.

A indicates the back of the comb, which is preferably formed of sheet-steel tempered to a degree to give it the necessary and desired spring. The back could as well be formed of spring sheet-brass or any sheet metal having the necessary spring.

B denotes the shank to which the handle 0 is attached. The shank, as will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1, 3, and 5, extends across, or nearly so, the entire width of the comb. On the under face of the shank there is formed a recess or seat a, Figs. 1 and 3, and fitting within this recess and extending out on the back of the comb is a brace or reinforcement D. This brace or reinforcement is preferaby made of the same springy material of which the back of the comb is composed. The shank and brace are secured to the back by suitable rivets b 12, passing therethrough, and the 0pposite' end of the brace is secured to the back by a rivet b. In practice the reinforcement has been made to extend to about the center of the comb, though I do not intend to limit myself to any exact proportions or any special number of braces or reinforcements.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a comb provided with two braces D, in which case the shank of the comb will of course be provided with two recesses or seats a a on its under face for the reception of the ends of the braces. This construction will of cmrse render the back less yielding than it would be under the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

A further modification is shown in Fig. 6. Here two braces or reinforcements D D are shown placed one upon the other and having their outer ends embraced in the seat a, formed on the shank. The seat or recess will in this instance be made deeper to accommodate the extra thickness of metal. A rivet b extends down through the inner ends of the brace D and the body of the brace D, but this lower face is made of such length as to extend beyond the upper one and out farther on the back of the comb.

These are but a few of the ways in which my invention may be carried out, and I wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, a springback comb with a spring brace or reinforcement secured thereto.

E denotes the sections which form the teeth. One of these sectionsis shown in Fig. 4. They are struck up out of spring sheet metal, preferably of the same character of which the back is formed. The side bars F of the sections are provided with teeth along their lower edge and are connected at the top at each end by cross bars or pieces G, said cross-bars being provided with suitable rivet-holes. It will be seen that there is no support for the central portion of the side bars F and that they are free to come and go,or, in other words, that theirspring is simplylimited by the crossbars G at their upper ends. The upper edge 01 of each side bar F is in a plane lower than that occupied by the cross-bar G, and when the sections E are riveted to the back these edges d do not come into contact with said back, and consequently the spring of the bars is not limited thereby. In consequence of said edges not being in contact with the back there is formed a space between the upper edges of the side bars and the under face of the back. This space, taken with the spring of the bars, tends to keep the comb free from any accumulation of dirt, and this is a point of the greatest importance.

To that end of the comb opposite the shank or handle I secure a scraper H, or instead of a scraper a rake I (shown in Fig. 5) may be employed. The scraper, as shown in Fig. 1, is slightly curved. It is formed of a plate J, provided with a vertical flange or rib K, extending upwardly therefrom. The plate J is securely rix'eted to the end of the comb. Embraced and secured between the flange K and a plate or bar L is a rubber strip M, which forms the scraper. The curving of the scraper enables one to work more readily on the animal than could be done with a straight scraper.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the comb is flexible throughout and that the spring of the parts allows the comb to adjust itself to the uneven surfaces of the animals body. The spring and flexibility of the bars render the teeth less liable to lacerate the skin, while at the same time the vibrations of the bars keep the dirt and dust from clinging to them, leaving the comb always free and clean.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a currycomb, the combination of the closed back formed of spring metal; and the tooth-sections formed of like material secured thereto; each of said sections comprising two side bars connected by cross-bars G G at their top at each end, the intermediate edges of the upper portions of the bars being below the back, whereby a space is formed between said back and the tooth-sections, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In acurrycomb, the combination of the closed back formed of spring metal; a reinforcing-plate D also formed of spring metal secured to the upper face thereof; and spring toothed sections secured to the under face of the back, said sections consisting of the two side bars connected by cross-bars G G at. their top at each end, the intermediate edges of the upper portions of the bars being below the back, whereby a space is formed between said back and the toothed sections as and for the purposes described.

3. In a currycomb, the combination of the closed back formed of spring metal; a reinforcing-plate D formed of like material and secured to the upper face of said back; a shank or handle, provided with a seat or recess in its lower face adapted to receive one end of plate D; and a series of toothed sections E secured to the under face of said back, each section comprising two bars F F, connected at their top at each end by the crossbars G G, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a toothsection E for currycombs, comprising the bars F connected at their upper ends by the crossbars G, said section being formed of spring sheet metal bent to form.

5. In a currycomb, the combination of the closed back formed of spring metal; a reinforcing-plate D formed of like material and secured to the upper face of the back; a shank or handle, provided with a seat or recess in its lower face adapted to receive one end of the plate D; a series of toothed sections E secured to the under face of the back, each section comprising two bars F F, connected at their top at each end by the cross-bars G G, said cross-bars being above the top of the side bars F F; whereby an open space is formed between the back and the side bars; and a clearing device secured to the back of the comb, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER O. DECKER.

\Vitnesses:

J. F. SMITH, W. S. SAMPLE. 

